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As a self-admitted creature of habit, I usually reach for the same fragrance every day. My select favorites are all light, fresh, and citrus-forward. While being a beauty editor entails trying perfume launches regularly, most other scents just don’t speak to me—so, when I caught my first whiff of Balmain Beauty Carbone, I was shocked by how much I loved it (and by the serious mood boost it inspired).
Balmain Beauty
Carbone Eau de Parfum
Balmain Beauty
At first glance (sniff?), the Best of Beauty Award-winning Carbone seems like the opposite of my go-to fragrances. Its main notes include white musk, rose, and suede, with hints of patchouli and cumin. It smells floral and a little woodsy—the cumin also gives it a spicy edge. Complex and cozy, it instantly awoke me from my fruit-forward stupor.
Allure senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin spraying Balmain Beauty’s Carbone
Sarah Felbin
Felbin with Balmain Beauty’s Carbone
Sarah Felbin
Since that first test spritz, I’ve been using Carbone on the regular, and I’m not the only Allure staffer who’s become hooked. “Rose-based scents are divisive and not something I usually gravitate toward. Balmain Beauty Carbone is the exception—I wore it every day this past fall and winter,” says senior beauty editor Jesa Maria Calaor. “It's an unexpected, uniquely romantic take on the floral note. Viscerally, it's like putting on red lipstick (striking), putting on a vinyl record (moody), and the feeling of a great first date (exhilarating).” Commerce writer Lily Wohlner is also tapped into the smooth, classy vibes, likening Carbone to ”a jazz club in a bottle,” adding that it makes an ideal transitional scent as we ease into fall. “It strikes that balance between dark and sultry, yet is fresh enough for daytime,” she says.
Balmain Beauty Carbone at Felbin’s desk
Sarah Felbin
Now, for the true test: Does the scent last all day? After weeks of testing, I can say Carbone lingers way longer than some of my other favorite perfumes do (a major win in my book, since who has time to reapply hourly?). The scent is pretty strong at first, so you only need one or two spritzes for serious impact (and staying power—I’ve noticed it lasts up to 8 hours). Personally, I tend to wear Carbone on nights out rather than on in-office days, for some much-needed confidence.
Not to mention, the black bottle looks stunning on my vanity—and it’s refillable. Balmain sells a 150-milliliter size that can fill the original, 50-milliliter bottle three times over. While it’s a major investment at $400 (or $133 per individual refill—less than the original $190), it means you’re never without your new favorite fragrance. (It also cuts down on wasteful packaging and shipping costs—smart.) And the refill process is simple, thanks to a small nozzle that shuts off automatically when the original bottle is full. Now, I’m no stranger to ordering the occasional perfume, only to find that it smells nothing like I thought it would (the joys of shopping online). If you’re not ready to splurge on the original or refill sizes just yet, you can test Carbone out in a smaller, 10-milliliter size for $45. Although, for what it’s worth, my colleagues and I are confident that the scent will speak to most people.
Balmain Beauty Carbone on a vanity
Sarah Felbin
Why? The top note, musk, has near-universal appeal. "Musk makes you think of clean laundry, clean sheets, clean skin, and, let's face it, clean equals safety and reassurance," Cecile Hua, a perfumer at Mane, previously told Allure. Yves Cassar, vice president and senior perfumer at International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. (IFF), added, “The world can feel heavy and intense right now, [and] musks are comforting.” So, I’ll sometimes spritz Carbone before a big presentation or any time I need a pick-me-up.
This perfume also pairs perfectly with a little black dress and a red lip, earning it a permanent spot in my fragrance rotation. Thanks to Balmain, I’m no longer exclusively a citrus gal—Carbone has opened up a whole new world of scents for me. In fact, next on my list to try is Cuir Élysées, another Balmain fragrance with notes of raspberry, pink peppercorn, leather, and sandalwood (a perfectly fresh and fruity counterpart to Carbone).
Snag your own bottle of Carbone now, before it sells out. Take it from a shopping editor: With holiday gifting season coming up, this will be tops on any fragrance lover’s list.
Balmain Beauty
Carbone Eau de Parfum
Balmain Beauty
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